A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a blade tip and a blade root. The rotor blade assembly also includes at least one noise reducer secured at the trailing edge. The noise reducer(s) includes at least one serration having a base portion and at least one side edge feature extending from the base portion. Further, the base portion extends along a first plane. The side edge feature(s) extends out of the first plane so as to reduce vortices generated by the serration(s).
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16. A noise reducer for a rotor blade of a wind turbine, the noise reducer comprising:
at least one serration comprising:
a base portion configured for securement to a trailing edge of the rotor blade, the base portion extending along a first plane; and,
at least one side edge feature extending from the base portion, the side edge feature extending out of the first plane so as to reduce vortices generated by the serration, the side edge feature having an arcuate cross-section.
1. A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine, the rotor blade assembly comprising:
a rotor blade having surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a blade tip and a blade root; and,
at least one noise reducer secured at the trailing edge, the noise reducer comprising at least one serration, the at least one serration comprising a base portion and at least one side edge feature extending from the base portion, the base portion extending along a first plane, the side edge feature extending out of the first plane so as to reduce vortices generated by the serration, the side edge feature having a circular cross-section.
9. A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine, the rotor blade assembly comprising:
a rotor blade having surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a blade tip and a blade root; and,
at least one noise reducer secured at the trailing edge, the noise reducer comprising a plurality of serrations, each of the of serrations comprising opposing side edges, each of the serrations comprising a radius of curvature extending between the opposing side edges, wherein all of the radius of curvatures of the plurality of serrations are oriented in a uniform direction, the radius of curvatures being configured to reduce vortices generated by the side edges of the serration.
2. The rotor blade assembly of
3. The rotor blade assembly of
4. The rotor blade assembly of
5. The rotor blade assembly of
6. The rotor blade assembly of
8. The rotor blade assembly of
10. The rotor blade assembly of
11. The rotor blade assembly of
12. The rotor blade assembly of
13. The rotor blade assembly of
14. The rotor blade assembly of
15. The rotor blade assembly of
17. The noise reducer of
18. The noise reducer of
19. The noise reducer of
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The present disclosure relates generally to wind turbine rotor blades, and, more particularly, to noise reducers for wind turbine rotor blades having a serrated edge.
Wind power is considered one of the cleanest, most environmentally friendly energy sources presently available, and wind turbines have gained increased attention in this regard. A modern wind turbine typically includes a tower, a generator, a gearbox, a nacelle, and a rotor. The rotor typically includes a rotatable hub having one or more rotor blades attached thereto. A pitch bearing is typically configured operably between the hub and the rotor blade to allow for rotation about a pitch axis. The rotor blades capture kinetic energy of wind using known airfoil principles. The rotor blades transmit the kinetic energy in the form of rotational energy so as to turn a shaft coupling the rotor blades to a gearbox, or if a gearbox is not used, directly to the generator. The generator then converts the mechanical energy to electrical energy that may be deployed to a utility grid.
As the size of rotor blades increase, the noise produced by the rotor blades may also increase. As such, in certain instances, various blade add-on components may be attached to the rotor blades to assist with reducing noise generated thereby. More specifically, certain blade add-on components may be attached adjacent to the trailing edges of the rotor blades.
In some instances, conventional noise reducers may generate noise-causing vortices. More specifically, a pressure differential from a pressure side of the noise reducer to a suction side of the noise reducer may create vortices at one or more boundaries of the noise reducer. For instance, for noise reducers having serrations, vortices may form at the edges of the serrations, which can generate noise.
Accordingly, the present disclosure is directed to noise reducers having at least one serration with an edge that minimizes the aforementioned noise-producing vortices.
Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a blade tip and a blade root. The rotor blade assembly also includes at least one noise reducer secured at the trailing edge. The noise reducer(s) includes at least one serration having a base portion and at least one side edge feature extending from the base portion. Further, the base portion extends along a first plane. In addition, the side edge feature(s) extends out of the first plane so as to reduce vortices generated by the serration(s).
In one embodiment, the base portion of the serration(s) may have a triangular cross-section. In another embodiment, the noise reducer(s) may further include a base plate secured at the trailing edge. Further, the serration(s) may extend from the base plate. In such embodiments, the serrations(s) may be integral with the base plate. In alternative embodiments, the serration(s) may be coupled to the base plate.
In one embodiment, the side edge feature(s) may extend toward at least one of the suction side or the pressure side of the rotor blade. In a further embodiment, the serration(s) may further include opposing side edge features on opposing sides of the base portion. In such embodiments, the opposing side edge features may be integral with the base portion. In alternative embodiments, the opposing side edge features may be separately coupled to the base portion.
In further embodiments, the side edge feature(s) may extend at an angle out of the first plane of the base portion equal to or less than about 90 degrees. For example, in one embodiment, the side edge feature(s) may extend generally perpendicular out of the first plane of the base portion.
In further embodiments, the side edge feature(s) may be tapered. In additional embodiments, the side edge feature(s) may be curved. In still further embodiments, the side edge feature(s) may have a generally arcuate cross-section.
In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a blade tip and a blade root. The rotor blade assembly also includes at least one noise reducer secured at the trailing edge. Further, the noise reducer(s) includes at least one serration having opposing side edges. In addition, the serration(s) has a radius of curvature defined between the opposing side edges that is configured to reduce vortices generated by the side edges of the serration(s).
In one embodiment, the radius of curvature may face at least one of the suction side or the pressure side of the rotor blade. It should be further understood that the rotor blade assembly may further include any of the additional features as described herein.
In yet another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a noise reducer for a rotor blade of a wind turbine. The noise reducer includes at least one serration including a base portion configured for securement to a trailing edge of the rotor blade. Further, the base portion extends along a first plane. The noise reducer also includes at least one side edge feature extending from the base portion. Further, the side edge feature(s) extends out of the first plane so as to reduce vortices generated by the serration(s). It should be further understood that the noise reducer may further include any of the additional features as described herein.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate the embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which:
Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Referring now to the drawings,
Referring now to
In addition, the rotor blade 16 may, in exemplary embodiments, be curved. Curving of the rotor blade 16 may entail bending the rotor blade 16 in a generally flapwise direction and/or in a generally edgewise direction. The flapwise direction may generally be construed as the direction (or the opposite direction) in which the aerodynamic lift acts on the rotor blade 16. The edgewise direction is generally perpendicular to the flapwise direction. Flapwise curvature of the rotor blade 16 is also known as pre-bend, while edgewise curvature is also known as sweep. Thus, a curved rotor blade 16 may be pre-bent and/or swept. Curving may enable the rotor blade 16 to better withstand flapwise and edgewise loads during operation of the wind turbine 10, and may further provide clearance for the rotor blade 16 from the tower 12 during operation of the wind turbine 10.
Still referring to
In addition, as shown, the rotor blade assembly 100 includes at least one noise reducer 110, e.g. secured at or near the trailing edge 28. Alternatively, the noise reducer 110 may be secured at or near adjacent the leading edge 26 of the rotor blade 16, adjacent to the blade tip 32, and/or adjacent to the blade root 34 of the rotor blade 16. Thus, it should be understood that the noise reducer 110 may be secured at any suitable location along any of the surfaces of the rotor blade 16. As such, the noise reducer 110 is configured to reduce noise generated by the rotor blades 16 during operation of the wind turbine 10 and/or may increase the efficiency of the rotor blades 16. The noise reducer 110 may be secured to the rotor blade 16 using any suitable means, such as by adhesives, tape, welding, and/or mechanical fasteners (e.g., bolts, screws, and rivets).
Further, as shown, the noise reducer(s) 110 may extend along a portion of the trailing edge 28 of the rotor blade 16. For example, the noise reducer(s) 110 may extend along a portion of the trailing edge 28 near the blade tip 32, as shown in
Referring now to
Moreover, as shown in
In addition, as shown in
Referring particularly to
Referring still to
As shown particularly in
In certain embodiments, the side edge feature(s) 118 may extend towards the suction side 24 of the rotor blade 16. For example, the noise reducer(s) 110 may be attached to the rotor blade 16 such that the side edge feature(s) 118 faces toward the suction side 24 of the rotor blade 16. In other embodiments, the side edge feature(s) 118 may extend toward the pressure side 22 of the rotor blade 16. For example, the noise reducer(s) 110 may be attached to the rotor blade 16 such that the side edge feature(s) 118 faces toward the pressure side 22 of the rotor blade 16. Still, in further embodiments, one or more of the serrations 112 may include side edge features 118 that face the suction side 24 of the rotor blade 16 while other serrations 112 may include side edge features 118 that face the pressure side 22 of the rotor blade 16.
In additional embodiments, as shown in
In other embodiments, as shown in
In addition, as shown in
Referring now to
In certain embodiments, the radius of curvature 132 may face the suction side 24 of the rotor blade 16. For example, the noise reducer(s) 110 may be attached to the rotor blade 16 such that the radius of curvature 132 faces the suction side 24 of the rotor blade 16. In another embodiment, the radius of curvature 132 may face the pressure side 22 of the rotor blade 16. For example, the noise reducer(s) 110 may be attached to the rotor blade 16 such that radius of curvature 132 faces the pressure side 22 of the rotor blade 16. Still, in further embodiments, one or more of the serrations 112 may include radii of curvature 132 facing the suction side 24 of the rotor blade 16 while other serrations 112 includes radii of curvature 132 facing the pressure side 22 of the rotor blade 16.
Although specific features of various embodiments of the invention may be shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only. In accordance with the principles of the invention, any feature of a drawing may be referenced and/or claimed in combination with any feature of any other drawing.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
Drobietz, Roger, Wang, Guannan, Petijean, Benoit Philippe Armand
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